FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2026

HTX Soccer Crowned USL Academy League Champions in Inaugural Season

In its very first season of competition, the HTX Soccer USL Academy has been crowned league champions, marking an incredible milestone for the club and showcasing the strength of the HTX player development pathway. Winning the league in the first year is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication, commitment, and quality of everyone involved.

While the result marked an important milestone on the field, the occasion represented something even bigger. The squad featured a unique blend of current players, college athletes, alumni, and former HTX players from across the club's 25-year history, showcasing the strength of the club's player development structure.

The season provided a valuable opportunity for players to compete alongside and learn from different generations of HTX talent. Current academy players gained firsthand experience playing with athletes who have continued their soccer journeys at the collegiate level and beyond, while former players had the chance to reconnect with the club that helped shape their development. The 2026 USL Academy Finals will be hosted at the state-of-the-art IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The tournament will be a 16-team bracket, featuring teams from the league’s 15 divisions beginning on Thursday, December 3, and culminating with a final on Sunday, December 6.  

HTX asked the coaching staff on their opinions regarding the fantastic success of the team:

“It’s been a great experience working with this staff and group of players over the past few months," said USL Head Coach Radojica Ristic.  "Competing in a different environment challenged us and provided a valuable learning experience for our academy players, while giving the entire group an opportunity to grow together. We’re proud of winning the conference, and it was great to see our HTX alumni playing with us as well. We’re looking forward to representing HTX at the USL Academy Finals in December and continuing our participation in the league in the years ahead.”

"Quite a remarkable inaugural season. The alumni support both on and off the field, combined with the current Academy players performances have been outstanding," said Dave Dengerink, Boys Director. "Congratulations to both the players and staff on winning the conference and best of luck at the playoffs in December."

"It has been a great experience to watch our Boys Academy players learn from the older more experienced players," said Stuart Fitzsimons, USL Team Coach. "To have the opportunity to experience the attitude, commitment, desire to compete from the older experienced players has really benefited the Boys Academy players learning what playing at the next level is all about. A big congratulations to all the staff and players involved as we move forward to the National Championships in December."

League Table:

Squad: Alejandro Fuenmayor, Alexis Cruz, Benjamin Alimasi, Cameron Phillips, Carson Alldredge, Cezar Onut, Christian Martinez, Christian Williams, Colin Glaze, Derek Escobedo, Diego Tonda, Dylan Price, Gabriel Minero, Harry Coombs, Isaac Guillory, Javier Morales, Jose Guadarrama, Julian Ordonez, Kainoa Carlsward, Landon Guenther, Logan Joy, Marco Chavarria, Miguel Becerra (GK), Nick Schall, Nicolas Suarez, Nolan Eisler, Owen Rodgers, Patryk Jankowski, Raphael Zanetti, Rodolfo Aguirre Villanueva, Ruben Andrade, Sina Ghanavati (GK), Ty Fernandez, Videep Mundodi, Wyatt Bodily,

Coaching Staff: Head Coach - Radojica Ristic, Assistant Coaches - Stuart Fitzsimons, Hector Galan, GK Coach - Mauricio Leon.

To find an HTX Soccer program near you for any age or experience level, visit www.htxsoccer.com

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